Electrical plug and outlet shield



195.6 A. J. TORCIVIA 2,761,112

ELECTRICAL PLUG AND OUTLET SHIELD Filed Oct. 18, 1954 IN V EN TOR. ARMOND I 76Rc/v/A dLtkuh g ArroQ/vEm United States Patent ELECTRICAL PLUG AND OUTLET SHIELD Armond J. Torcivia, Newark, N. J.

ApplicationOctober 18, 1954, Serial No. 462,988

6 Claims. (Cl. 339-82) This invention relates to a novel protective shield or casing, more particularly a protective shield designed for use in conjunction with conventional electrical outlets andplugs.

The conventional electrical wiring installation provides for-a plurality of propitiously placed recessed wall receptacles containing sockets for the receipt of plugs electrically coupled to the appliances which it is desired to energize. It was found, however, that where the sockets are not closed up by plugs and often even when they are, there is a danger that they may be used as laythings by little children who may be severely'injured by electrical shock. Therefore, where small children are present, it is necessary to provide some means to prevent them from tampering with the electrical connections so as 'to protect both from harm. Further 'difllculties are encountered in the use of conventional plug and socket connections in-that the plug projecting fromthe wall surface is subject to breakage arising from abuses when furniture or the like is pushed thereagainst, or when the appliance is moved so as to cause the 'plug to be pulled out of its socket. engenders fire hazards as a result of arcing between the plug and socket.

It is with-the above problems in mind that the present construction has been evolved, a construction providing a protectiveshield for electrical outlets and plugs which will serve to protect children from harm, and to securely maintain contact between plug and socket while at the same time'protecting same from abuse.

It is accordingly a primary object of this invention to "provide a novel shield for electrical outlets and plugs which will prevent small children from tampering with the connections.

A further object of this invention is to provide "a "novel shield for electrical outlets serving to maintain same in a clean, dry condition.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an electrical outlet and plug shield serving to secure the connection between plug and outlet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel protective shield suitable for use in conjunction with conventional electrical wall outlets.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel shield for protecting electrical plugs and outlets from damage or unwarranted tampering.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel electrical shield, pleasing in appearance, simple in production and use, and requiring minimal maintenance.

These and other objects of the invention which will become apparent from the following disclosure and claims are attained by provision of a cover made in two portions having overlapping inner sleeves through which a screw may be passed into engagement with the cover plate or escutcheon of the electrical outlet. The cover extends over the socket of an outlet and is provided with variable spacer sleeves which provide a secure engagement be- This latter situation also 2,761,112 rarest-ea Au 28, 195's following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective viewshowing the'novel shield in position on a wall outlet.

Figure 2 is a top 'plan view'of the novel protective shield.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional'view taken-online 3 3 of Figure 2 showing-the details of the plu'g'securing sleeves.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of aplug securing sleeve.

Figure 5 is an end view of the 'novelshield showing the separation along its longitudinal axis 'prior'to mounting on the escutcheon plate of an electrical wall outlet.

Referring more specifically to the drawings it will be seen that a protective shieldllfl is provided,which is here illustrated as of an elongate nature such as to'fit' ever the conventional double socket wall outlet having an escutcheon plate 39. TlllSSlllld'lO is made up of' two transverselys'eparable elongate poi' tidns "11am '12. "-Portion 11 as best seen in Figure 5 is provided 'withain offset "13 containing an aperture 14, "whereby 'this' offset innetions as a sleeve. Portion 12 is alsop'rovided with an offset 15, having an aperture 16. I

Apertures 20 and 21, "as best "seen in" Figures 3 1" and {2, aresyrn'metrically placed 'on'the shield. i

Spacer sleeves 25,"'as best "seen in "Figure 3' -aiid ""4, are provided. VA bolt 26, aS bSt s eeh in Figllle ll, is' positioned iiieliread through lapertures14 a'rid 16in mannerisms12s. -Such bolt replaces th'e-screw'vvhich ordinarily extends inent of plug in'so'cket, it 'is'mer'ely necessary to pl'aceone of the matinghalves 11 and 12 in position overthe escutcheon plate 'ofa walhoutlet. Then a 'spacefiz's, which is longitudinally split, is"selecte'd of a lengt-hequ'al to the distance between the top 'of the plug'andthe 'i-nii'erwall of the shield (Figure 3). Thissleeve' 'is separated along its slit and positioned ove I the wire-e tending from the plug. -Asclearly*seen in the drawings,

sleeves of different length may be selected to correspond to different plug shapes. Then the second mating is placed in position and the two halves are held in position by means of bolt 26 which is engaged in conventional tapped recess of the Wall outlet.

The protective casing is made in two halves so as to allow its use without the necessity for removing the wires from the plugs. Furthermore, this arrangement facilitates production out of plastics by pressure casting.

It is thus seen that a novel protective shield for use in conjunction with electrical outlets and plugs has been provided which serves to prevent abuse of the socket and plugs by children tampering therewith or by breakage as a result of furniture being pushed thereagainst.

The illustrated embodiment reveals provision of a protective shield designed for use in conjunction with a conventional two socket outlet. It is to be noted, however, that modification to permit application to any type of wall outlets is readily within the scope of this invention.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration and elucidation and not by way of limitation and it is desired to protect all the embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with an escutcheon plate for an electrical receptacle having outlets and at least two plugs in said outlets, a shield comprising: two casing halves, an apertured offset on each half, one of said ofisets lying over the other, said offsets being located in the middle of the casing and separating the interior of the casing into two plug-containing compartments, means extending through the apertures of said offsets and through the escutcheon plate into fastening engagement with the body of the receptacle to maintain said halves and said plate in assembled relationship on the receptacle, and means extending between the casing and the plugs securely to maintain the latter in the respective outlets.

2. In combination with an escutcheon plate for an electrical receptacle having outlets and at least two plugs in said outlets each plug having a wire connected thereto, a shield comprising: a casing having two separable portions, an offset on each portion, one ofiset overlying the other, said offsets being located in the middle of the casing and separating the interior of the easing into two plugcontaining compartments, means engaging said offsets to maintain the portions together, said casing portions including covers having openings formed therein in alignment with the plugs, and spacer sleeves extending about the wires connected to the plugs in the casing and between the plugs and said openings.

3. In combination with an escutcheon plate for an electrical receptacle having outlets and at least two plugs in said outlets, each plug having a wire connected thereto, a shield comprising: a casing adapted to surround the plugs and to engage the escutcheon plate of the outlet, said casing having apertures in alignment with the outlet through which the wires leading to the respective plugs may pass, means located in the center of the casing for securing the casing to the receptacle body and against the escutcheon plate, and extending between the plugs and the casing apertures serving securely to maintain the plugs in the outlets.

4. In combination with an escutcheon plate for an electrical receptacle having outlets and at least two plugs in said outlets each plug having a wire connected thereto, a shield comprising: a hollow casing member having one opening adapted to lie over the escutcheon plate, said casing member comprising a top having openings in alignment with the outlets to accommodate the wires leading from the plug-s inserted in the outlets, a bolt passing through the center of the casing through the escutcheon plate and into threaded engagement with the body of the receptacle to maintain the casing and plate on the receptacle body, and spacer sleeves each having a slit therein, permitting said sleeves to be spread to permit application to a wire, said sleeves extending on the wires between the plugs and the top of the casing, whereby when the casing is positioned on the escutcheon plate the plugs will be secured in the outlets.

5. In combination with an escutcheon plate for an electrical receptacle having outlets and at least two plugs in said outlets, each plug having a wire connected thereto, a shield comprising: two interengaging elongated casing portions, each of said casing portions having a tubular offset, one of said offsets lying over the other, said ofisets being located in the middle of the casing and separating the interior of the casing into two plug-containing cornpartments, and a bolt passing through the two offsets and through the escutcheon plate into threaded engagement with the body of the receptacle to maintain the shield and escutcheon plate assembled on such body and the casing in engagement with the plate, each of the casing portions having formed therein a separate opening for the wire leading from the plugs inserted in the respective outlets, said openings being in alignment with the respective outlets.

6. In combination with an escutcheon plate having outlets and two plugs of different heights in said outlets, a shield comprising two interengaging elongated substantially rectangular casing portions, one of said portions having a tubular oflset located in the middle thereof opposite the other portion and extending downwardly from the top of said one portion, the other one of said portions having a tubular ofiset extending upwardly from the bottom thereof in alinement with the first-mentioned offset, a bolt passing through the two ofisets and engaging the escutcheon plate to maintain the casing on the plate, each of the casing portions having formed therein a separate opening for the wire leading from a plug inserted in a socket, the opening being in alinement with the plug, and two flexible spacer sleeves having a slit therein, permitting said sleeves to be spread to permit application to a wire, said sleeves being of ditferent lengths and extending on the wires between the plugs and the top of the casing, whereby when the casing is positioned on the escutcheon plate, the plugs will be secured in the sockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,756 Leopold Feb. 22, 1948 2,464,893 Ross Mar. 22, 1949 2,487,900 Sopher Nov. 15, 1949 2,510,745 Kilgore June 6, 1950 2,526,606 Gregg Oct. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 787,934 France July 16, 1935 

